Thursday’s Mini-Report, 7.3.14

* A specific terror threat: “A day after the announcement of heightened security measures on United States-bound flights, the American Embassy in Uganda said Thursday it had been warned of a ‘specific threat’ of attack to the country’s main airport and said travelers ‘may want to review their plans.’

* Israel: “The Israeli military rushed additional forces to its southern border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday, vowing to halt a growing wave of rocket fire from the Palestinian territory, while new clashes erupted in east Jerusalem in response to the death of an Arab boy who Palestinians say was killed by Israeli extremists.”

* Iraqi security forces “are probably incapable of retaking large swaths of territory seized by Sunni insurgents in recent weeks without outside help, the Pentagon’s top leaders said Thursday as they sketched a bleak assessment of turmoil in the country.”

* Hurricane: “North Carolina and its fragile Outer Banks braced for a blow from Hurricane Arthur on Thursday as the storm gained strength, took aim and threatened to wash out Fourth of July plans farther north along the East Coast.”

* I often wonder how strong the jubilation would be if economic conditions improved this much under a Romney administration: “The stock market, continuing a remarkable ascent that began in the darkness of the last recession, surged past a milestone on Thursday after a strong jobs report indicated that the economy might finally be gaining steam.”

* That didn’t take long: “House Ethics Committee Chairman Mike Conaway said Thursday that his panel would undo its controversial decision to delete the requirement that lawmakers list free trips they receive on their annual disclosure reports.”

* Tick tock: “Iran must still resolve ‘significant’ concerns over its nuclear program before any deal can be struck, a senior administration official said Thursday, as talks neared a self-imposed July 20 deadline.”

* Like a jukebox that only plays one song: “Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) pressed for increasing aid to moderate rebel groups after meeting Syrian opposition leaders in Turkey Wednesday, warning that delays would ‘fuel the growing danger’ to U.S. security.”

* Mississippi: “Sen. Thad Cochran’s (R-Miss.) primary challenger, state Sen. Chris McDaniel, is offering a $1,000 reward in exchange for evidence of voter fraud in his contentious primary fight that leads to an arrest.”

* I don’t know if Fox News ripped off “Bioshock: Infinite” with its “Defending the Homeland” logo, but I do know the image itself is a little creepy.

* Good question: “Why Is The Media Taking These ISIS World Domination Maps So Seriously?”

* I’ve never really seen the appeal of Michael Bay’s movies, but this is an unexpected real-world twist: “ ‘Age of Extinction’ is considered an ‘officially assisted production,’ made with help from Jiaflix Enterprises and official state broadcaster CCTV’s China Movie Channel, who ponied up for part of the budget [to] get a piece of the box office. No such deal gets struck in China without the consent and approval of the Beijing government and the Chinese Communist Party, and in this case, Paramount is in business with the Beijing regime directly, through CCTV.”